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Del Valle downs Andress in bi-district

Del Valle clinched its eighth bidistrict title in 12 seasons after a home victory over Andress Friday night.

Behind a penetrating defense and a break-through run game, the Conquistadores defeated the Eagles 36-16, in a Class 5A, Division I playoff game.

“We had to win the battle in the trenches, be more physical up front and bottle up their speed,” Del Valle head coach Jesse Perales said.

Friday’s victory also marked Perales’s 100th win at Del Valle.

“So many good guys have come through here,” Perales said. “Not one group is more special than the other. I’m just a lucky man to be able to coach at Del Valle.”

Del Valle got on the board first with 8:28 in the first quarter. Freshman quarterback Raymond Montez scored on a 1-yard keeper followed by a successful 2-point attempt to give Del Valle an 8-0 lead.

Montez is the younger brother of former standout Del Valle quarterback Steven Montez, who is now at Colorado.

Del Valle struck again with a 96-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver George de La O from Montez to extend the lead, 14-0.

Before the end of the first quarter, Del Valle got to the Andress 4-yard line, but senior quarterback Anthony Lopez fumbled the ball. Andress senior defensive back Xavier Haynes picked up the ball and returned it 96 yards to the end zone to cut Del Valle’s lead, 14-6.

Del Valle countered with a 33-yard carry for a touchdown by senior running back Jason Morales with 6:13 in the second quarter to extend its lead, 22-6.

“Our offensive line played the biggest part,” Jason Morales said. “Once the line got it going, the holes started opening up.”

Before the end of the first half, Andress freshman kicker Mark Ramos cleared a 21-yard field goal to cut Del Valle’s lead, 22-9.

Early in the third quarter, the Eagles got on the board again with a 65-yard sprint to the end zone by senior running back Robert Wiggins to narrow Del Valle’s lead, 22-16.

The Conquistadores answered with a six-play drive capped by a 1-yard carry across the goal line by junior running back Ray Morales to extend their lead, 28-16.

Del Valle put a finishing touch to the game in the fourth quarter with a 51-yard touchdown run by Jason Morales on the first play of its drive, plus a successful 2-point attempt.

“We play as a family,” Del Valle senior linebacker Mike Aguirre said. “When we play together as a fist, we punch the opponent in the mouth as always.”

Del Valle (9-2) moves on to the area round of the Class 5A, Division I state football playoffs, where it will play Abilene Cooper on Friday at Midland. The time for the game had yet to be determined as of Friday night.